One step forward, two steps back

This was my day in a nutshell.

One step forward: I decided I am going to save as much money as I can to pay off my debt and possibly get a (much needed) new car by summer.

Two steps back: A few days ago, I got a parking ticket for expired registration. It was due in December but because of the move, the registration renewal form never made it to the new house and as a result, I totally forgot about it. I am doubly stressed because without the registration renewal form, I am told I will have to go into the DMV to deal with it all.

One step forward: Just a few days later, the (now delinquent) registration renewal form arrives at my house in the mail. It’s like the DMV gods heard my frustrations and thought, you know, let’s cut her some slack.

Two steps back: I owed $268 (for the renewal fee, late fees, and lest I forget, $94 for a forgotten ticket from last September). There goes my plan to put more money towards the credit card, at least for this month.

One step forward: I take a deep breath and tell myself that I will get it all squared away. I decide that I will go into the DMV anyway so that I can get my tags and new registration on the spot.

Two steps back: The form tells me I need a smog check before I can renew. Even though it’s pouring rain, I venture out on my lunch break, resolved that within an hour, this will all be a distant memory.

One step forward: After biting my nails for 10 minutes — because seriously, my car failing its smog test would just be icing on the cake — I am told that my Civic has passed the smog check. Hurrah. $50 later (sigh, more money gone), I am headed to the DMV which is conveniently located across the street from the test station.

Two steps back: The DMV, as always, is completely PACKED. A line snakes outside the front door and down the side of the building. It’s practically a monsoon outside and I naively thought the DMV might be less crowded as a result. No such luck. I can’t find a parking spot and, quite defeated, head back to work.

One step forward: To ease my frustrations, I stop for french fries at Wendy’s. And resolve to try again tomorrow.

 

The Last Purchase

The time has come. 

I must quell the shopaholic that lives inside of me.

Goodbye, Nordstrom.

Adios, Nine West.

See ya later, Forever 21.

All of my extra cash is going to two things.

First, to these suckers. Yes, yes, I’m coming clean.

And second, to this little baby.

Shh…. Soon, very soon, we’ll be together.

***

But for now, I will revel in the last purchase. The last item that my shopaholic self has come to call her own. I will nurture you, little suede heels.

 

WHO DAT?!?!?!

Feeling so good because my hometown team,
the New Orleans Saints,
are Superbowl XLIV champions!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing, a new blog: “KOB loves…”

I am pleased to announce the launch of my new blog, “KOB loves…”

 

This blog is a place for me to share all of my favorite things that I’ve discovered. From foods, to accessories, to restaurants…this is where I get to highlight all the things that make my days just a little bit brighter.

I will be hosting giveaways, offering product placements, and taking suggestions for things that YOU love as well. 

So head over to my new blog @ kaitlynloves.blogspot.com now! And please let me know what you think via comments. Your feedback is most appreciated!

 

All the best,

 

The Only Thing Worse Than A Rainy Day…

…is a rainy day where the candy bowl in the office looks like this:

 

Not a drop of chocolate to be found anywhere. Oh, it’s a sad, sad day in the Ogilvy office.

 

Greetings From Malibu!

And what better way to celebrate a gorgeous LA day
than with a drive up the PCH through Malibu?

 

Tech-Savvy Toddlers and The Infamous Mac Lesson

I remember when I first started to babysit while going to SJSU. I would watch these two little girls (maybe age 4 or 5) in the evenings so Mom could run errands and have some time to herself. They would routinely ask to play games on the computer. So I’d sit down with them and navigate to the appropriate page.

And every time I searched for the right game, they would excitedly exclaim, “GOOGLE!!!!” as soon as that familiar rainbow lettering appeared on the screen.

I was shocked at their enthusiasm and interest in a search engine. LOL.

Fast forward 2 years.

I was consistently sitting for a family of 3 boys. When the time came for a movie or TV show, the oldest (about 7-8) would grab the remote and start navigating the Tivo. Like it was nothing.

The middle child (4 or 5) would play on the computer — and do everything on his own. Once I got him onto the right web page, he was good to go. It was funny; he might not play the games exactly right, but he could figure out how to get to what he wanted very easily.

I’m sure the youngest (then 2) is not far behind!

Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when I read this blog post on theappleblog.com about the writer’s 3 year old daughter learning to use an iPhone. After loading it with children’s movies, educational games, and other age-appropriate content (btw, toddler/kid-friendly apps are HUGE on iTunes right now), it became her favorite toy. It worked so well, the dad ended up giving her his old, outdated iPhone (with internet, etc. disabled). Apparently, she’s practically a whiz on it now.

It’s amazing how quickly kids today are picking up technology. And a little scary.

image courtesy of socialsignal.com

 

 

 

The Infamous Mac Lesson

I remember the times I taught my mom about new technology (texting, blogging, Facebook … oh, and how to use a Mac. That was fun.

Our first (aka last) Mac lesson went something like this:

Mom: “Ok. So where’s Internet Explorer?”

Me: “You mean Safari.”

Mom: “What?”

Me: “I use Safari. It’s just like IE.”

Mom: “Oh. Well, where is it?”

Me: “It’s at the bottom of the screen, Mom. In the dock.” (Unlike PCs, where everything is usually on the desktop, all my programs are in the dock which I have set to pop up at the bottom of the screen.) 

Mom: “The what?”

Me: “The dock. It’s where all the programs are.”

Mom: “Well, I don’t see it.” (Now she’s getting frustrated.)

Me: “Just hover around the bottom of the screen.”

Mom: “Huh? Oh, there. Well that’s silly. Why would you hide them there?”

Me: I decline to answer.

At this point, she leaves the Mac and promptly goes back to her PC. 

(Mom, if you read this, don’t get mad at me. LOL.)

***

Does this mean that when I have kids, they’ll be teaching me about the latest and greatest gadgets?

 

There’s No Such Thing As “Just a Dog”

I looked up from my computer at the TV in the office for just a quick second — and then I wished I hadn’t. BREAKING NEWS, the caption read. DOG TRAPPED IN LA RIVER.

I am one of those people who values an animal’s life just as much as a human’s. It’s NOT “just a dog” to me, as some people will say. So I was devastated when I saw the poor thing stuck like that. Here’s what happened.

***

The dog had been stuck in the LA river’s freezing cold water for almost 2 hours before crews were able to make their first rescue attempt. He was balancing on a ledge in the middle of the river, just standing there. I’m yelling at the TV, get in there and save him! But I know it’s not that easy.

 

Finally, two teams make their way in. One downriver, in case he floated (or swam) away, and one in front that would approach him and hopefully grab him.

But as soon as they got close, he bolted.

 

The dog dodges rescuers and continues to make his way down the river. I’m thinking all hope is lost; there’s no way he’s getting rescued.

 

I can’t take it anymore so I try to stop watching — but it’s impossible. About 5 minutes later, a helicopter approaches the dog, who’s now trying to climb out of the water but keeps falling back in. Either he was too tired, or the hill was too steep and slippery (or maybe both). But there’s hope — a rescuer is airlifted down and he makes his way towards the dog. 

 

After a brief tussle (apparently the rescuer was bitten multiple times), he wraps his arms around the pup and the two are lifted up and out of the river.

HOORAY! 

(cue happy dance)

They’re dropped on a nearby bridge where the dog is restrained, muzzled, and then taken to an ambulance.

***

Both the dog and the firefighter who rescued him are recovering. How amazing is that guy, risking his life for that dog? I love people like that.

So a happy ending. Phew.

–all photos courtesy of nbcLA–

 

Rainy Friday: What The Hail?

 

 

All was quiet … and then it wasn’t. Despite not a drop of rain in the sky, it started to hail like crazy here in LA today. Steady downpour for almost 2 minutes.

And after, little ice rocks like these COVERED the ground. They melted pretty quickly. However, it was a sight to see.

Apparently it doesn’t hail that often in LA — because everyone in the business park started filing out of their offices to enjoy the “show.”

 

Rainy Thursday: The Sun Will Come Out…

 

 

A (welcomed) break in the storm…